House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., was first elected to Congress in 2000. / Steven Senne, AP

by Susan Davis, USA TODAY

by Susan Davis, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders shelved a health care bill scheduled for a vote Wednesday because they did not have the votes in their own party to pass it. The "Helping Sick Americans Now Act" would have redirected money from President Obama's health care law to an insurance pool to provide coverage for sick Americans with pre-existing conditions.

The decision was a blow to both Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whose collective efforts were not enough to clinch the votes.

The legislation is part of a broader messaging effort outlined this year by Cantor to improve the GOP's political brand and appeal to more swing voters. "Over the next two years, the House majority will pursue an agenda based on a shared vision of creating the conditions for health, happiness and prosperity for more Americans and their families. And to restrain Washington from interfering in those pursuits," Cantor said in February in an address that outlined the "Make Life Work" agenda. Several pieces of legislation under the agenda's umbrella are likely to dominate the House's spring calendar.

Earlier Wednesday, Cantor told reporters that leadership was "forging ahead" with the bill. "We're trying to find solutions here. We don't believe in 'Obamacare,' and we want to stop 'Obamacare,'" he said "And that's why we are going to defund the slush fund that (Health and Human Services) Secretary Sebelius is using for the implementation of the bill and taking the money from that fund to provide it for access to coverage for pre-existing condition patients. That's the right thing to do."

Tuesday, McCarthy echoed the GOP leadership's interest in focusing on more issues that affect everyday American lives, including a vote next month on a bill to allow private-sector workers more flexibility to choose between comp-time or overtime pay.

"So many times when I turn on the TV and I listen to Washington, I hear about the debt and the deficit. I hear about the fights. And if I'm sitting at home and I'm trying to make different things in my household work and go forward, I try to say, 'How does it relate to me? How does Washington relate to me?'" he said.

The health care legislation faced a veto threat from the White House and broad Democratic opposition, so the vote was largely symbolic to underscore an alternative path to cover sick Americans. However, leaders faced pushback from conservatives who continue to oppose Obama's health care law and want to see it fully repealed, not simply picked apart.

It also divided outside conservative influences. The Wall Street Journal editorial board praised the legislation, but activist groups including the anti-tax Club for Growth opposed it and warned lawmakers they would score the vote as part of their annual conservative rankings.

It is unclear when the bill will be brought back to the floor. However Doug Heye, a Cantor spokesman, said the House will return to the bill when Congress returns in May. "We continue to work the bill. We had positive conversations today and made good progress. We remain focused on stopping the biggest entitlement expansion in a generation," Heye said.